Store service truck



May 19, 1953 s. GOLDMAN ,539, 61

STORE SERVICE 'mu'cx 4 Filed Nov. 21, 1949 '4 shun-same INVENTOR. 3'74 wow A. GoLD A ATTORNEY May 19,1953 s: GqLbMAN- STORE SERVICE TRUCK Filed Nov. 21, 1949 4'-snu.ty +spm. a

- INVENTOR. 5Y4 VAN/Y. G01. zmn/v.

ATTORNEY s." N. coma/MN STORE SERVICE 'raucx' May 19, 1953 Filed Nov. 21, 1949 4 Slioots-Sh'qot 4 INVENTOR. 5Y4 VAN /V. Gannon/v.

ATTOR N EY Patented May 19, 1953 sures- ;enrem Application'"N0v mb This invention -*relates to-*store ser-vice trucks the type embodying a carriage and a fba'skt 'm' containerpboth of which are constructed and arranged for nesting association with carriages and baskets Ofsimilarconstruction.

In the -prior art -it has been "found that in -many instances the "nesting operation embodies iimnecessaryffriction during the nesting association df =a'multiplicity -of"parts,;- particularly in instances where' the 'parts have -been-slightly 'de- '"fiectedormisaligned' due' to; longusage and" abuse,

"and "dueto "the unnecessary friction some diflirealty may be encounteredin-separatingthestore iserviee trucks when-too mu'chforce is-used-by tthe attendant in arranging the -device in nest- -ing association.

"Themaintobject ofthis invention is to so-con- -'strnct'-and-"arrange the -parts o'f the-carriage or truck that the interengaging or Ernesting :parts "assembled in telescoping arrangement'are substantially 'without' frictional "contact so that -frlctional contact, is only "present "between the 'xbasketscarriedsby the nested trucks.

JAiurtherobiec't -of'-the invention is to. construct the-carriage with -a lower basket in which 'the'tba'sket is "constructed *of a; plurality" of substantially spaced U=shapeid. rods :or wires, each *of which is forwardly inclined and properly zspace'd and "wherein *the *-frame of 'e the I carriage is :sufiiciently elevated .above 'the "front "Of'the thasket 'forming-elements thatthe latter are fltee f'for tspace'd'ztelescoping :association inconnection 'witlr-simi-lanpa-rts of thegsamettype of;:structu're,

rwhereby-thernesting association is present' withrout frictionalengagement of the related and o associated parts.

More specifically the vinvention .compreh n'ds pair 'of "spaced upright frame members sup- -1 ported-on-casters and :constructedat their upper 'portionsfor suppertinga telescoping-basket havi-ing a wear" hinged gate; the bottom of h the frame includingtransverse "braces which support U shaped forwardly extending la din'g carrying rods :or *wires :reiati-vely widelysspace'd between the uprights and converging forwardly so that J the :Eforward wright-portion; of each of the U-shaped Fielding-carrying elements will be positioned substantially intermediatefithe rear upright, parts of the basket forming elements of .:an associated -basket, thus permittin the front vupri ht ,,0f'"

' the U 'elements; torfit in betweenthe associated ":up'right elements.

Another feature'tof the present invention is the 'formation '"of the '3 lower article carryingglba'sket Whichthewires or-rods forming the sideele- -;2 *ments of the basket are offset for association withithe upright sitie frame members to. compre- "hend the maximum bracing of "the fraLmeastruc- =ture.

* A 'fu-rther objectxof theinvention isE'the mWfl "means i for supporting 1 the "front oasters Ifif :the

carriage by deforming the rods forming-thematriage or basketstructureso that these partsuwill project :downwardly :-an'd rearwardly *in a whori- 'zontal *planeewherehy the front casters will be properly associated and -a-rranged With respect to the rear. casters and -be -spacecl ifor-wardlyl but inwardly of: the: same.

-Other objects of this invention-will more clear- 1y=hereinafterappear -by reference= to "the accompanying drawings -and speci'fication, wherein-like characters of *reference designate i corresponding -parts throughout theseveral views in which:

' Figs 1 is a perspective view-of-ohe form 0'1 :the

'20 invention;

I Fig. 2 is a perspective view of l the structure-of -Fig. 1 associated-in -nesting relation with: a siniilar asse-mbly;

Fig. '3 is P a rear elevation of I the lowerportion 0f thecarrier of-Fig; l-partly :insection;

-Fig. 4 is'a side elevation of a-modified form -of-carrier frame embodying a lower basket structureof the typeshowniri-Fig. 1; r

"=Fig. 5-- is a; section taken on line -5-5:of -Fi'g. 4; Fig. =6 -is a rear elevation 1 of i the lower part-of theearriage'of Figs i;

' Fig; 8- =is-ea :perspective view of the frontscaster ;:-support;

Fig, 9i-:shows -a fragmentary -v-iew-in elevation-of ei-modified formofbasket intelescoping v position-With an'associated structure;

*Fig. lo-s-is a" top plan view of thestmoture-of Figs-9;

Figx-llshows a modification of'the rear gate; Fig. 1-2'-is an elevation partly in section showing *the gate structure ofFig. 11 in detail Fig; 13 1s a perspective view ofthe front caster '45 "mount;

-14 -is-a top -plan view of a rear-wheel mount "and --;1'-fig.'15-is.,a perspective view illustratingthe -association ofthe si'de'frame members. I

Th arriage assembly is of thegenenaitype f ';-my applications lSerial "No. "79,658; filed :January T 1 9 'andjserial N0."99,'3 ffi1 .d'JLlne 17, 1949, 'das. ini theyinstance oflthesesprion applications i bed-embo iment include av carriage termed .with spaced upright side frame assemblies having at their lower ends suitable supporting rollers and at their upper ends mounting a telescoping basket, the basket being forwardly tapered and having its bottom inclined from the horizontal. The rear end of the basket is provided with a hinged gate to facilitate the nesting of a similar basket carried by a similar cart as more clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the instant application. The carriage likewise includes a lower supporting structure which projects forwardly at the bottom portion of the spaced side frames, which supporting structure is provided with suitably arranged casters. Obviously the bottom supporting structure must be of such a character as to permit a nesting operation similar to the nesting operation of the telescoping basket carried at the top of the assembly. The nesting basket structure supported at the top of the carriage side frames includes the forwardly tapered body A having its bottom B inclined from the horizontal and its rear gate C hinged at c to the handle portion D. The basket is braced at its rearward portion by the angularly projecting frame members E, which form a continuation of the side frame members and bottom cart structure which embodies the main features of the instant development.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the side frame assemblies are fabricated of relatively heavy wires or rods and each of these frame members is associated with the horizontal supporting structure which provides the spacing and bracing elements required in the development. Each side frame member includes an outer U-shaped frame having vertical elongated legs I and 2, the connection between these legs I and 2 being substantially widened as at 3 to form the outer support for the axle of the roller 4. The axle supporting portion 3 may be formed by flattening the U-shaped member as more clearly indicated in Fig. 14 and this flattened area can be drilled to receive the end of the axle. The inner vertical element of each of the side frame members is generally of U-shaped form and includes the upright legs 5 and 5, the A bottom connecting portion 5 of which is flattened as in the instance of the outer frame element to receive the inner end of the axle or wheel mounting in the same manner as the outer wheel end is supported. The upper portion of the forward leg 6 of the inner U-shaped frame element is offset outwardly and the extremity of this le is bent into substantially a horizontal plane as shown at I in Fig. 2 to lie flush against the legs I and 2 of the outer frame member and at points of intersection this arm I and thelegs land 2 of the outer frame member are welded so-that the arm 1 forms an upper brace for the legs I and 2, spacing the latter and retaining the same in rigid relationship to the rest of the assembly. The rear legs I and 5 of the U-shaped elements of the side frame members are rigidly secured against lateral movement or distortion by the rear end portions of the frame members 8 and 9, while the front legs 2 and 6 of the U-shaped side frame members are laterally spaced by the alternately arranged side frame members In and II.

The lower frame member 8 is of U-form and has its free end portions offset laterally as at I2 to extend between the rear legs I and 5 and at points of contact are welded to form the bottom brace for the bottom parts of the inner legs 5 and 6. The side member 9 is similarly offset at its rear end as at I4 and forms an upper brace between the rear legs I and 5 of the side frame members. The inner legs 5 and 6 of the inner U-shaped frame member are braced by being welded at points of contact with the legs of the frame member 9. The side frame member ID is of U-forrn and i offset at I5 to form a front spacer and connection between the front legs 2 and ll of the side frame assemblies and the extremities of the U-shaped member I0 project rearwardly as at I6 to form a longitudinal brace between the legs I and 2 of the outer frame members. The upper frame member II is offset in a similar manner as the U-shaped member ID, as shown at H, to form a lateral spacer between the legs 2 and 6 and the end portion of the member II extend longitudinally as at I8 between the outer legs I and 2 to brace the latter above the brace l6. It will be understood that the parts at all points of intersection are properly welded to form a rigid fabricated side framing which at their upper ends support the nesting or telescoping baskets and at theirv lower ends mount the casters 4. Thus there is provided alternate lateral and longitudinal braces for the spaced upright inner and outer frame members which support the rear casters 4.

The elements 8, 9, I0, and II form the side walls of the lower nesting carrier, the bottom and end walls of which are constructed of a plurality of U-shaped wickets 20, 2I, 22, 23, 24 and 25, which are six in number and which are illustrated in perspective in Fig. '7. Each of these wickets is formed with a relatively elongated base indicated by reference character a in Fig. 7 with the rear upright leg b and the forward upright leg e, the latter being looped downwardly at I for connection with the base h of the U-shaped frame member In heretofore mentioned. In the structure of Fig. 7 the downwardly extending projection f at the front of each of the wickets terminates at the cross brace h of the modification shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. However, in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, this arm I extends beyond the connection with the base h of the U-shaped member I0 and below the elongated base a of the carrier wicket to a point approximating the plane of the wheel carrier structure hereinafter described, and terminates in rearwardly extending portions 28 which overlie the wheel carrier assembly and is secured thereto for supporting and retaining the same in position. The wheel carrier frame is formed by downwardly offsetting the base of U-shaped side frame member II and the bumper (not labeled), these offset portions being indicated by reference characters 23 and 30 and lying in a common horizontal plane and being suitably spaced by welding to the rearwardly projecting lower end extremities 28 of the U-shaped wickets 20-25, inc. The front casters 32 are spaced inwardly of the rear wheels 4 and have an upright stub swivel projecting through the clamping plates 33 and 34 as shown in detail at Fig. 13. The rear arms of the U-shaped wickets 20-25, incl., after forming the bottom of the lower commodity carrying structure, extend upwardly at 20', 2|, 22, 23, 24' and 25', well above the front end portions e and f of these wickets and are connected to the cross braces 35 and 36 which extend across and form lateral braces for the rear legs I and 5 of the side frame assemblies. The lower cross brace 36 must be spaced sufficiently above the front upright portion of these wickets to permit the front portions to move below the same when one carriage is telescoped with another carriage of similar construction. Likewise the spacing of the rear up- "ransemom' is bestshowo in Fig.3.

right "sins for the "wickets i n ts, inch; is substafitiairygreate'r'tnan therronrspacmg' 6f nese i 'portit'ins thereof "wilFbe substantiallymediarof s "nesting "operation. "This "construction anaerthe same inveativenevelopmenc l-fid'vvfhelei' ri the frame is constructediOFtubing Wlththetu'blng "this rorm or 7 the invention the upright spaced i 15 side fran ic members"are"fornied' or: inverted" U shaped tubing structures, the "-lgs or-whiohare indicated by reference oharacterssa' andfiFwi'th ithe" baseor each nam indicated hy reference wise of bent U-sliap'e'd' tubingand ardformed to include the legs 54 and 55. the cloSe'd'end of'the U' being forward ain'dthe rear end portions being flattened at spaced portions indicated by reference characters'dt to facilitatethe riveting at-p'oints of "25 t w;

intersection with the upright sideir-ame members 5% and 5!. Rearrollers'tl'support the rear arms 56 of the upright U-shaped frame members and front-casters- 53-a-remounted on the caste supf pdrting" cross tie--59 showndn detail -in li ig. 8."tll)" s rggt Ihis cross tie'dd-is -ofgenera -"form embodying vertical 'e'ktrem-ities" 60 *which -are welded tothe lower side frame arms 55. This support is formed with suitably spaced openings 6| through which the caster shaft extends as more clearly shown in Fig. 6. As in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the lower commodity supporting structure is formed of a plurality of rods or relatively heavy wire of general U-shaped form as illustrated in Fig. 7. These rods have been heretofore described as embodying the elongated base portion a, the rear upright portion b. and the forward upright portion 6, which latter is looped downwardly to provide the arm j which is welded at its extremity to the cross tie h. The cross tie h is best shown in Fig. ,5 45

and has looped extremities 62 which are hooked about the base of the U-shaped frame members 54 and 55 and are welded into position. The rear ends of the U-frame elements forming the front,

character 52. "The side name nieinbersare likea and the middle portion an, thlatterfbemgitormed warden'ds off-the traekway 'TT'eXtendin upwardly in aplane with thebottom ofthe basketas shown 'at t 4* to'levate the associatedbasket duiing the -telescoping ederationand simultaneousl-y 'leducing the width of the gate so that when two-associatw'baskets are properly telescoped "thecgate f -will be in the 'fo'rward' narrow portion or the bas'ke't" ainddulytiillapsd to compensatfor the change of width of the-structure. Any" itable chicane si'i'chjas springs,Weights-"0fthe like can be providedforreturnirig the gatescr they may return automatically "due to the inclinatlommf raokwa'ysasshown. ias been found quite difficult to" constructiof fabricated "metal, arid particularly of"wire-or"-r0d structures, store-service trucks of required"stability. Thesestore service"trucks are subjected 'e'mely hard -usage '-arid" the nature ofth'is "*u's'age u'equiresthat the str' rztures embody 'not only inherent-stability biit a*-tendency towards resiliency, so that the bumping and knocking during use and during telescoping will not distort the frames or the parts associated during telescoping. Obviously a distortion of the basic structure would result in the misalignment of the parts which are to be telescoped, and in addition would result in a battered appearing assem- 40 bly which would be undesirable in the trade. As

a consequence, the material used in the structure of these carts is selected after considerable study and engineering, and the parts are constructed as shown in the instant application to lend rigidity in all directions. The vertical frame structure, which is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, must obviously be reinforced against longitudinal and lateral distortion and this is accomplished by utilizing certain of the lower lading structural parts and rear, and bottom of the carrier extend upwardly deflecting these parts so that they will compreabove the top of the front upright portion and are welded to the cross tie 63 which extends between and is welded to the frame members.-

In Fig. 9 the tubular frame of Figs. 4, 5, and 6 is slightly modified by being flattened at 52 so that the basket carrying brackets 70 will lie in a horizontal plane. These basket carrying brackets '19 are of angular form with the outer vertical legs ll and the horizontal legs 72, the basket-13 being illustrated as having its rear side wall portions substantially parallel and tapering forward- 1y as shown. The length of the taper will comprehend a distance approximating the length of the nesting operation, this association being readhend bracing elements as shown and described.

The bottom lading structure in the present development, and in all forms of the development as contained in this application, is constituted pri- 55 marily of elongated U-shaped wickets which are so constructed and arranged that they will relatively interengage to permit a nesting operation. The relation of the parts, as for instance the wickets 2t-25, incl. of the structure of Fig. 1,

are so constructed and arranged that when two ily understood by reference to the associated for e required in stacking and imstackins t basket i shown in dotted lines. In the illustrations of Figs. 9 and 10 the gates 15 are shown as arranged on vertical hinges "l6 and swing inwardly to lie parallel to the vertical flanges H of the brackets. the same type as in Figs. 9 and 10, however, in the structure of Fig. 11 trackways 77 are provided and the gates are of collapsing form as shown in Fig. 12. Each gate which closes an end of the basket embodies the end portion 19- 75 structures by customers in a store. In other Words, it is important that the amount of force required in the stacking and unstacking operation be substantially neutralized so that any per- I Fig, 11 th baskets are of son, regardless of age or strength, can select and This not only facilitates the use,

What I claim is:

1. In a store service truck, a wheel supported frame structure including spaced uprights, :a member connecting and retaining said uprights in spaced position, and a forwardly projecting lading carrying assembly formed of a plurality of U-shaped laterally spaced wickets, said wickets being connected at their rearward upper portions to said spacing member, and being held in rigid spaced relation at their forward ends, the spacing of the wickets at their rearward ends being greater than the spacing at their forward ends, whereby the forward end of the lading carrying structure may move into telescopic association between the more widely spaced rearward ends of wickets of an associated service truck of like construction.

2. The substance of claim 1 characterized in that casters support the forward ends of the wickets, the casters being spaced inwardly of the rear supporting wheels.

3. In a store service truck, spaced vertical frame members, wheels supporting the frame members, a member connecting and spacing said upright frame members, a supporting structure mounted at the upper end of each of said uprights, and a lading carrying structure supported from said connecting member and including a plurality of laterally spaced U-shaped wickets, said wickets converging forwardly with respect to each other to permit a nesting operation with a. structure of similar construction.

4. The substance of claim 3 characterized in that the upright frame members include a plurality of vertical, spaced rods having connecting means therebetween, the connecting means projecting forwardly of the frame members and being supported by rollers spaced inwardly with respect to the rear supporting rollers.

5. The substance of claim 3 characterized in that the supports at the upper end of the side frames are positioned to extend rearwardly of the rear upright frame structures.

6. In a store service truck, a frame including spaced uprights fabricated from a plurality of elements having intersecting parts which are secured at the points of intersection, a forwardly tapered lading supporting structure carried by the uprights and including a series of elongated U-shaped wickets, said wickets being supported between the uprights at their rear ends, a transverse member connecting the wickets at their front ends, and casters supporting the uprights and the transverse member.

SYLVAN N. GOLDMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,674,352 Adams June 19, 1928 2,443,515 Rockwell June 15, 1948 2,479,530 Watson Aug. 16, 1949 2,583,513 Maslow Jan. 22, 1952 

